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Sheriff Todd Entrekin, Gadsden Police Chief John Crane and DEU Commander Rob Savage discussed the operation Thursday at DEU headquarters. DEU agents seized 400 grams of cocaine, several guns (including an AK-47) and several vehicles suspected to have been purchased with drug money.

Two of the houses were in Gadsden — one on North Ninth Street near the courthouse and the other on Mary Street in East Gadsden — and the other was in Attalla.

The Joint Special Operations Group and members of the drug task force and the FBI served the warrants without incident.

Four men were arrested in the operation. Jerome Benard Williams, 30, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation. Jhavaris Rashawn Riddle, 36, was charged with distribution of a controlled substance.

Richard Louis Riddle, 35, had the most serious charges, three counts of distribution and one count of drug trafficking. Roderick Randall Loyd, 34, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, but became the first person in Etowah County to be charged with pistol possession by a violent felon under the new gun law because of his prior drug trafficking charges.

Crane said the operation shows what the drug trade takes away from the community.

“The drugs themselves take away from the dignity of our citizens, the weapons take away their safety,” Crane said. “I think this is a good example of (how) we’re taking it back.”

Savage said the cocaine was going to be turned into crack before being sold. He said the amount seized only represents a small amount of what already has been put onto the streets, as the suspects allegedly were meeting with 50 to 60 people every day.

Savage said all four were armed at the time of the arrest. He said the weapons go hand in hand with drug sales, especially given the street value of the cocaine, which estimated at around $40,000 in powder form and $50,000 to $60,000 when converted to crack.

The investigation took between eight and 10 weeks and began with observant people calling in anonymous tips to the drug task force. Savage said the four operated as both high and low rungs in the drug-dealing hierarchy.

Additional cases involving all four are pending and the case has been referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“We will definitely seek federal prosecution so that these folks get what is due to them,” Savage said.

<p>The Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit served three search warrants simultaneously on Wednesday and made the largest arrest for cocaine the county has seen in years.</p><p>Sheriff Todd Entrekin, Gadsden Police Chief John Crane and DEU Commander Rob Savage discussed the operation Thursday at DEU headquarters. DEU agents seized 400 grams of cocaine, several guns (including an AK-47) and several vehicles suspected to have been purchased with drug money.</p><p>Two of the houses were in Gadsden — one on North Ninth Street near the courthouse and the other on Mary Street in East Gadsden — and the other was in Attalla.</p><p>The Joint Special Operations Group and members of the drug task force and the FBI served the warrants without incident.</p><p>Four men were arrested in the operation. Jerome Benard Williams, 30, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation. Jhavaris Rashawn Riddle, 36, was charged with distribution of a controlled substance.</p><p>Richard Louis Riddle, 35, had the most serious charges, three counts of distribution and one count of drug trafficking. Roderick Randall Loyd, 34, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, but became the first person in Etowah County to be charged with pistol possession by a violent felon under the new gun law because of his prior drug trafficking charges.</p><p>Crane said the operation shows what the drug trade takes away from the community.</p><p>“The drugs themselves take away from the dignity of our citizens, the weapons take away their safety,” Crane said. “I think this is a good example of (how) we're taking it back.”</p><p>Savage said the cocaine was going to be turned into crack before being sold. He said the amount seized only represents a small amount of what already has been put onto the streets, as the suspects allegedly were meeting with 50 to 60 people every day.</p><p>Savage said all four were armed at the time of the arrest. He said the weapons go hand in hand with drug sales, especially given the street value of the cocaine, which estimated at around $40,000 in powder form and $50,000 to $60,000 when converted to crack. </p><p>The investigation took between eight and 10 weeks and began with observant people calling in anonymous tips to the drug task force. Savage said the four operated as both high and low rungs in the drug-dealing hierarchy.</p><p>Additional cases involving all four are pending and the case has been referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office. </p><p>“We will definitely seek federal prosecution so that these folks get what is due to them,” Savage said.</p>